Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-02-07
The White River Horror.

The telegraphic dispatches in Saturdays
GAZETTE gave an account of the terrible
accident which occurred that morning
near Woodstock, Vt, on the Central Yer
mont Railroad. The train was approaching
a bridge over White river when a broken
rail or defective wheel caused the four rear
most cars, containing about eighty psssen-
gers, to be precipitated into the frozen river
fifty feet below, converting the train into
mass OF debris. Many were killed instantly.
A. larger number were injured more or less
seriously and unable to stir. Others still
were slightly hurt, but in the darkness OF
the night were unable to find means of exit
from the broken cars which were piled one
upon the other. A temperature OF twelve
degrees below zero added to the horrors OF
the situation. Hardly had the outcries of
the wounded and dying been heard, when
fire starting from stove at the bottom OF
the heap, converted the wreck into con-
hagration. The few that escaped had but
moments in which to rescue such of their
fellow passengers as were within reach from
the devouring element. The rest were
burned to ashes. 1t s stated by an eye wit
ness that several passengers were penned in
the wreck who might have been rescued
alive but for the flames.
One of the first passengers to escape from
the burning wreck was Joseph Magnet o
French Canadian boy, living in Shannigan,
Canada. He was with his father, David
Magnet, on their way from Holyoke to
their home. The boy sat three seats behind
his father in the third car in the rear. He
was doing in his seat when he felt the car
SILVER. This motion was kept up for a few
seconds, and then the car dashed over the
bridge upon the ice. By hard work the
boy succeeded in getting out of one of the
car windows, which still held lis shape.
Joseph at once went in search of his father,
and discovered him by the light of the burn.
ing wreckage just above him, pinned down
by part of the top of the car which had
fallen directly across his chest and legs.
The old man was as firmly held as in wise.
Joseph, who was the only one who escaped
| from the car, rs he says, rushed to his ia
theirs assistance and spoke words of en-
enlargement to him.
The father was very cool under the cir
cumstanoes aud told his son to help him
out as soon as possible. The boy seized his
father and struggled with all his strength to
extricate him, but in vain. The flames
were approaching rapidly. Joseph" said
the father, run and get an axe or a saw"
but the boy could not find either. Pull
me out, then" said the father, "even if you
have to break my legs to do it," Joseph
tugged away with ell his might but could
not stir his father an inch. With
wonderful GOODNESS the father gave
himself up to his fate, Its no use, my boy"
he said. There is no hope for me. Leave
me and save yourself But remember the
dying words of your father: Always be q
good boy. Farewell, my son will meet
you in the other world ~ The flames were
! then 80 close at hand that the boy could re.
main no longer He left his father and got
out of reach of the flames and watched his
parent slowly burn to death in the flaming
| debris.
One young girl of 20 years, Miss Emily B.
Lowell, of Montreal, who was in the forward
sleeper, broke through the window and es
capped. She was attired in her night dress
and had on neither stockings nor shoes, but
she instantly went to the relief Of her broth
er, and, tearing strips from her night dress
tried to staunch the flow of blood. She
then dragged him across the ice to shore,
but he died soon afterwards
There was lady in the ruins who was
saved, but she was naked when taken
from the car. She said she could never
have been taken out if she had kept her
clothing on.
The suffering from cold was intense.
There are only two or three farm-houses
within two miles of the wreck, and these
are filled with wounded. Others are scat
tered along for three or four miles, with no
means of communication except by train.
An unknown man with baby clasped in
his arms was found dead in the ice near one
of the burning coaches.
According to the latest estimate 50 pas
sengers were killed and SO more or less in
ured.
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